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Energy firms could be referred to the Competition Commission if they do not comply with the new system, Ofgem said.

"Consumers must have confidence that energy companies are playing fair at a time when they are being asked to foot the £200bn bill to pay for the investment Britain needs to ensure secure and sustainable energy supplies," said chief executive Alistair Buchanan in a statement.

One supplier, Scottish Power, will face an investigation into its pricing regime, Ofgem said.

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That investigation is in addition to an ongoing Ofgem investigation into British Gas, EDF Energy and Npower into how they handle consumers' complaints.

Ofgem is also still investigating possible mis-selling by EDF Energy, Npower, Scottish Power, and Scottish and Southern Energy.

"In response to customer demand, there is now a wide range of energy products available - such as green tariffs and fixed tariffs - to meet the diverse needs of different customers," said Christine McGourty of the energy industry body Energy UK.

"If energy companies are not setting out these options clearly enough then this is something that should be addressed."

Comments

Comment number 52.

monkey_footstep21st March 2011 - 13:43

To further muddy the waters, I have economy 7 so have a day rate and a night rate for electricity. When I called my supplier to find out when the night rate period was, they couldn't tell me. They said they didn't even know themselves.

Comment number 50.

Robert Borruso21st March 2011 - 13:42

The electricity suppliers are private companies (EdF aside) whose primary duty is to there share holders which means they will take every opportunity to maximise profits. During the excitement of the '80's sell offs this was kinda forgotten. Now when they start behaving like good capitalist organisations everybody is upset.......was state ownership really that bad?

Comment number 49.

ChocolateBoxKid21st March 2011 - 13:39

The profits the Energy companies are making are no where near the scale seen by the Petrol / Supermarket / Mobile Phone and Pharmaceutical companies are making every year. I don't see a threat by Govt Watchdogs to break them up for "added competition".

Comment number 47.

wisepranker21st March 2011 - 13:37

@39. Seems as though the customer is no longer right, just feckless or stupid.

My supplier has been estimating my bills for 18 months and couldn't/wouldn't tell me where my meter was. After I refused to pay another est. bill, they "found" it. Turns out they owed me over £100 but after taking the reading were still sending me reminders for the higher amount 3 weeks later.

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